Chapter 14

Pulling up outside the house, Catherine couldn't help but smile. They had been in LA for 3 months, in that 3 month so much had changed. She was now married, to an amazing woman, who completed her in every way. Standing at the door, she felt as if she was coming home for the first time, a home where she would build with the love of her life, something Catherine thought she would never find. Startled when she felt Annabelle come up behind her she smiled, putting the key in the lock opening the door, walking into the house all she could do was stand there. "my god"

"what?" Annabelle asked walking passed her setting the bags she was holding by the stairs

"we're married"

"yes we are" Annabelle smiled leaning in kissing her

"welcome home" Jamie said moving passed the couple

"home" Catherine smiled looking at Annabelle who wore the same smile. Catherine could only ever dream about this moment, being in a place in her life where she was so disgustingly happy. They hadn't talked much about it yet, but she secretly hoped that when Annabelle graduated in 3 years they'd move to California, she loved it there, and was already missing Patty, even though they'd only been gone a few hours, it was kind of strange that her mother in law had become her best friend, but it had been so long since she clicked with someone the way her and Patty did. It was almost as if Catherine was made to be part of that family. Annabelle didn't seem to mind the fact that her mother and her wife were close. Which made it even better in Catherine's opinion.

Looking at Catherine, Annabelle found herself smiling, trying not to cry, how could she go from coming to Bloomington to get over someone, to finding the love of her life, and getting married not even a year later. Catherine was everything Annabelle had dreamed of, everything she thought Simone was, but that was a joke. She laughed to herself hoping no one heard her, she didn't feel like explaining yet again why she was thinking about Simone. Shaking her head, she smiled again, Catherine was perfect, in her opinion, the way the ring on her finger shined in the light, made Annabelle's smile get bigger.

"oh Belle, I forgot Leonard said to go see him in the next few days and he'll help you get your name changed with the school"

"ok" Annabelle smiled

"shit, that reminds me" Collins said as she plopped down on the couch, making herself at home. Jamie on the other hand sat softly down next to her, she was still a little shy, being in this house, she used to walk by it when she was younger, she always thought whomever lived here must have been rich and stuck up, as they never saw anyone outside or a car in the drive, but getting to know Catherine and the story she now knew different, but was still a little shy. "I have an appointment on Friday with him for my classes"

"yeah don't forget that" Catherine said sternly "and all 3 of you know, if you need help with anything, school related or not, I'm here"

"yes, mom" Collins let out in a laugh causing the other 2 to giggle

Later that night found the foursome in the living room watching a movie when out of nowhere Jamie asked "are we going back for thanksgiving?"

"why" Annabelle asked in a laugh

"because I miss it"

"cali?" Annabelle asked

"yeah"

"well I wasn't planning on thanksgiving, no point in going back for only a few days"

"oh" Jamie said sadly

"Christmas though" she looked at Catherine who smiled and nodded

"ok" Jamie said sitting up a bit

"wouldn't you want to be with your family for Christmas?" Annabelle asked

"nah, they'll be fine without me" Jamie smiled

"well I'm game for whatever, I know my mom would like me home for thanksgiving, but she can deal with it if I'm not" Collins smiled "and I'm not taking you away from your family for Christmas"

"we'll see maybe they'll come with" Jamie smiled thinking about it. "which reminds me" she nudged Collins "we are having dinner with them tomorrow"

"with whom" Collins asked

"my parents" Jamie smiled

"great" Collins said looking at Annabelle who gave her a have fun smile "thanks" she mouthed

"you'll be fine, they are excited to meet you"

"yeah I bet they are"

"why you so nervous?" Annabelle asked

"because, um, well" Collins shrugged "I don't know honestly, you've met my parents"

"I've met your whole family" Jamie smiled

"ok, so what time is dinner?" Collins asked

"um usually around 5ish, I'm not sure, I'll call or stop by the shop in the morning"

"ok" Collins looked at Annabelle who smiled

"well" Catherine said moving "I'm beat so I'm going to head to bed"

"ok" Annabelle said looking at her friends "guess that's my cue"

"you should go to bed, you were almost asleep until we started talking" Collins said

"I think we're right behind you" Jamie winked

"good night girls" Catherine said reaching down to pull Annabelle up, following her to the stairs.

"I'm not looking forward for school to start"

"yeah" Catherine said quietly

"the summer went by too quick"

"it was an amazing summer" Catherine said going to the bathroom that was attached to her room.

"hey" Annabelle said quietly, standing in the door way to the bathroom, Catherine met her eyes in the mirror "are you" she sighed "are you going to be ok not working?"

"yes, Belle, I'll be ok not working" Catherine smiled

"I feel like it's my fault"

"no" she said moving to where Annabelle was "it's not your fault, I knew what I was getting into when we started this"

"I know but still" Annabelle looked down

"Belle" Catherine said reaching for her chin to make her look at her, but Annabelle closed her eyes so she wouldn't have to "baby, look at me"

"what"

"it's not your fault, and honestly, I wouldn't change any of it for the world. I love you Annabelle, for always"

"always" Annabelle smiled, as Catherine nodded giving her a quick kiss "now go so I can use the bathroom" she pushed her out of the doorway

"bossy wife" she laughed as she made her way to the dresser to dig out her shorts.

The 2 weeks they had until school started went by quick, Collins moved into the dorm, and Jamie stayed at the house with Catherine and Annabelle. She said it was closer to school and she wouldn't need her car, and Catherine really wanted the company. Collins, decided since her friends were a year a head of her she'd load up her course load, hoping to fit everything in and catch up with Jamie and Annabelle, so they'd all graduate at the same time. Of course she was having a hard time dealing with it all. Catherine, played the happy house wife, while the girls were at school, she'd work on her article, and other stuff around the house, making sure to at least have a plan for dinner when Annabelle walked through the door. One night while Jamie and Annabelle were at a study group, she was in her chair reading a book when there was a knock at the door. Confused to who it might be, she put her marker in the page and went to answer it, finding a distraught Collins on the other side "why did you knock, we've told you plenty of times to just come in" Catherine smiled

"I, I don't know" Collins said not making eye contact with Catherine

"Collins, what's wrong?"

"I, I" she stuttered "I can't do this"

"do what?" Catherine was confused "come in" she said moving aside

"this, I can't do this" she said tossing her backpack down on the couch

"you're going to have to be more specific here."

"this whole trying to do two years of school in one"

"honey it's still first semester, you can cut back"

"but then I won't graduate with Anna and Jamie"

"you've got time to take all this, don't burn yourself out"

"but" Collins looked up into Catherine's eyes, tears threatening to fall

"what do you need help with?"

"this" Collins said opening her bag, and pulling out her work, Catherine took it, and smiled "I got you, come on let's go to the table"

The weeks began to go by in a blur for the girls, with Catherine's help Collins got everything caught up, deciding to loosen her class load the next semester, Catherine smiled, when Collins said she was right, she still had 3 years. The week of thanksgiving was fast approaching, all 3 girls happy for a break from school. Collins stayed at the house with Jamie, they hadn't seen much of each other the past month, although she was there for dinner most nights, they hadn't spent any quality time together, which had Annabelle concerned, she really wanted her friends to make it, her worries put to ease once the break came.

Monday came, everyone was relaxing around the house, when the doorbell rang. "who could be here" Annabelle asked

"why don't you go check" Catherine smiled, knowing who it was.

"that means I have to get up" Annabelle whined as the bell rang again, and Catherine gave her 'the look' "fine" she huffed getting up. Opening the door she gasped seeing her mom and dad standing on the other side "hi honey" Nate smiled

"what are you guys doing here?"

"I thought since we weren't going to go there for Thanksgiving, I'd have them come to us" Catherine said standing behind Annabelle "move so they can come in, it's cold out" she added pushing Annabelle out of the way.

"I see nothing has changed" Patty commented as she reached out pulling Annabelle in for a hug

"hi mom" she smiled

"well come on in, make yourself at home" Catherine smiled "I'll take those" she nodded to the bags Nate was holding. Patty had been there before, she made a stop on her way back to LA from Washington, because she was missing Catherine. "Belle, why don't you take those upstairs"

"that explains why you were in there cleaning" Annabelle smiled "come on dad, I'll show you to your room" she added taking the bags and heading towards the steps.

"this was such a good idea Catherine" Patty said as the two of them stood side by side in the kitchen working on dinner, Catherine just smiled as she popped a tomato in her mouth.

"this house is huge" Nate said sitting down on a bar stool

"not as big as yours" Catherine commented

"well true" he smiled "I bet it had to cost a pretty penny"

"well I wouldn't know" Catherine stopped what she was doing "it was my parents house, they left it for me, or rather it became mine, after" she stopped

"ah" Nate said looking around "well I love it"

"thanks" Catherine smiled

"crazy your parents are here" Collins said plopping down on the couch next to Annabelle

"where's Jamie?"

"at her parents"

"you didn't go with?"

"nah, I let her go alone" Collins smiled "besides, gives you and I a chance to hang" Annabelle smiled at her best friend "I guess it has been a while since we've had time to talk"

"fucking school taking up all my time, Jamie and I haven't even, well you know, in over a month"

"and you're pent up?"

"you know it" Collins winked

"we went through that last year" Annabelle smiled remembering the day in the library

"how'd you get through it?"

"well" Annabelle looked back making sure no one was in ear shot of what she was about to say "I found Catherine in the library with the excuse of I wanted her to check my assignment before I handed it in"

"you didn't, in the library?" Collins shuddered

"we started to but didn't want to get caught"

"nice, you still got it" Collins put her hand up for a high five, but Annabelle shook her head

"Anna" Patty called from the kitchen

"it's so weird to have her here" she laughed then got up to see what her mother wanted.

The next thing they knew it was Christmas break, with their first semester already behind them, the four some headed to the airport on their way to LA.

"I bet your parents are excited to see you" Catherine said to Collins as they waited for the plane to begin boarding.

"yeah probably" Collins said rolling her eyes

"you miss them you know it" Jamie smiled, kissing her cheek

"yeah, are you ok with staying there?"

"of course" Jamie smiled

"ok" Collins said reaching for her hand as their flight was called for boarding.

"well shit" Collins said looking at her phone, they were at the baggage claim

"what" Annabelle asked not quite paying attention

"well my dad was going to pick us up here, but he got called into work"

"that's fine, ride with us, Brody is outside with the limo, he will drop you off"

"are you sure?" Collins asked looking at Jamie

"yes, now come, I see our bags"

"hello Brody"

"hello Mrs. Stark" Brody smiled

"Annabelle" Annabelle smiled, although the sound of being called Mrs. Stark was nice, Brody let out a small laugh, taking their bags and putting them in the trunk.

"back to the house?" he asked once in the driver's seat

"actually no, we need to drop off Collins and Jamie at Collins' house" Annabelle said

"ok" he smiled making eye contact with Annabelle in the mirror.

"feels like coming home" Catherine said sitting down on the couch

"you like it here?" Annabelle questioned joining Catherine on the couch.

"I do" Catherine smiled "outside of going to college, I've been in Bloomington my whole life"

"hmm" Annabelle said looking at her "so you think once I'm done with school you want to move here"

Catherine smiled; Annabelle had guessed her secret "I was hoping to"

"well" Annabelle smiled "I think we can manage that"

"did you have something else in mind?"

"I hadn't really thought about it, but if you want to live here in Cali then I say why not, I'm sure we could both find jobs that would make us happy"

"you're the best" Catherine said leaning over to kiss her, a kiss that soon had Annabelle pushing Catherine back on the couch. Catherine pulled back from the kiss when she couldn't breathe anymore whispering "do you really think we should do this here? Your dad could come home any minute"

"you're right" Annabelle jumped up, grabbing Catherine's hand and pulling her to the bedroom. "nothing stopping us now" she said. Collins had made a joke about a month ago, about how they had become and old married couple, that didn't sit right with Annabelle or Catherine.

The next morning Catherine awoke with the sun, Annabelle wrapped around her, a smile graced her face, this is where she belonged. This house that felt more like home than her house in Bloomington, which she grew up in. She let out a sigh, when her bladder started screaming at her it needed to be released. Slowly untangling Annabelle, careful not to wake up the sleeping beauty, she climbed out of bed, in search of some clothes. The aroma of coffee filled the house, she didn't hesitate, heading downstairs once she was done in the bathroom. Patty was sitting at the kitchen table, laptop open typing out what Catherine assumed to be an email, coffee cup sitting beside her. Not saying anything Catherine made her way to the coffee pot, pouring herself a cup of the hot beverage that was going to give her body a kick start, or so she hoped. "oh Catherine" she heard Patty say "you scared me"

"sorry" Catherine smiled

"I didn't think anyone was up yet"

"well you know Belle wont be for a while yet" Catherine chuckled

"yeah I'm sure she wont be"

"she has been working hard the last few weeks"

"how's her classes going?"

"seem to be good, she's just been busy, her and Jamie decided to take some pretty hard courses last semester"

"how's Collins doing?"

"she" Catherine sighed "she was struggling a bit, but I hope we got her back on track and she passed all her classes"

"that's good, I know at Thanksgiving she was having a hard time"

"I understand why she's doing it, but I wish she would have spread stuff out more"

"you sound like a mom"

"I suppose I do" Catherine laughed, she looked up into Patty's eyes, reminding her of Annabelle, 'how could this lady be my mother in law and my best friend'

"I'm glad you're here" Patty smiled

"I am too"

"at risk of sounding corny here, I missed you"

"I missed you too" Catherine smiled "and you'll be happy to know when Belle graduates, we have decided to move out here"

"she agreed to that?"

"yup" Catherine smiled, a smile that told Patty she declared victory

"good" Patty gave her a smile "you've become my best friend Catherine" Catherine nodded with a smile "I'm serious"

"I know" Catherine smiled "you've become mine too, it's been so long"

"I understand that" Patty sat back in the chair, a smile on her face. "so I'm almost done here, what do you say you and I head out and do a little shopping?"

"shopping?" Catherine said "I loved that"

"and grabbed some lunch somewhere" Patty said "I've been so busy with everything I haven't had much time to do anything lately"

"I wish I could say that" Catherine sighed "just let me wake up a bit more then I'll get ready"

"take your time, I've got a ton of emails to go through, but I'll be ready when you are" Patty smiled

"ready for what" they heard a sleepy voice ask

"oh you're awake" Patty said looking at the clock, it still early

"what's that supposed to mean?" Annabelle asked looking between her mother and her wife

"we just expected you to sleep the day away" Catherine said as she and Patty enjoyed a giggle

"laughing at my expense, I see how it's going to be" Annabelle chuckled "it's ok though, I thought I'd sleep longer too" she asked sitting down with her coffee

"we are going to go shopping; do you want to join us?" Patty asked, Annabelle looked at Catherine then back at her mother, with a smile she said "no, I'm good you two go have fun"

"ok" Catherine smiled leaning over giving Annabelle a kiss and a whisper of good morning.

Christmas Eve came, Collins and Jamie had joined them for dinner, and they exchanged the gifts they had got for each other. Once they had left, Catherine and Annabelle joined Nate and Patty in the family room, in front of the tree, a nice fire going in the fireplace. "hey" Patty said looking at everyone, once she had their attention she smiled saying "why don't we break tradition and open gifts tonight"

"if that's what you want to do honey" Nate said folding up the paper he was reading.

"I think it is" Patty smiled again looking at Catherine

"we've already broken tradition" Annabelle said realizing that they decorated the tree yesterday instead of their normal Christmas eve, Catherine just smiled. For the second year in a row, she was with a family on Christmas, she sat back on the couch, looking around the room. 'yup this is exactly where I belong' she smiled as Patty handed her a gift. Nodding her thank you, she opened it inside she found a picture frame with a picture of the four of them with Leonard and Joan from the wedding, engraved on the frame it said "family is forever" "oh Patty thank you so much" Catherine could feel the tears sting her eyes

"your welcome" she smiled

"no really" Catherine said making eye contact with her "thank you" Patty smiled and nodded knowing exactly what Catherine was saying. Once the gifts were opened Annabelle retrieved her guitar from the corner where she had stashed it and they sang Christmas carols. The next day was filled with the family coming over just like the year before, only this time Catherine wasn't nervous, they had all been at the wedding, so she was pretty sure she knew what to expect.

New years eve came after that. Annabelle wanted to have a little party consisting of Collins and Jamie, of course, and Kristen and her boyfriend. Patty had invited them to a party one of her colleagues was throwing, Catherine desperately wanted to go and spend sometime with people her own age but Annabelle wanted nothing to do with it. "baby, if you want to go, go, I'll be fine here with the girls"

"we should really be together"

"then don't go"

"but" Catherine sighed, she was trying her hardest to get Annabelle to go, but she knew deep down that Annabelle wasn't giving in to the idea.

"Catherine" Annabelle said looking her in the eye "if you want to go with my mom, go, it'll be ok"

"I just think" Catherine sighed again "I think that we should spend our first New Years Eve married, together"

"I know you do" Annabelle smiled "but honey, I really don't want to hang out with my moms friends"

"you hang out with me" Catherine said under her breath

"you're my wife, and I love you" she said placing a kiss on her lips.

"it's fine honey, I'll stay with you"

"if that's what you want" Annabelle smiled "I'm sorry, I just can't do it"

"its ok" Catherine sighed, leaving the room. Annabelle found her later sitting by the pool with a glass of wine, with a far off look on her face. "shit" she muttered to herself as she slowly approached. "hey" she said softly as she sat down in a chair

"hi" Catherine said giving her a sad smile

"you really want to go to that party don't you"

"I'd like to, yes, but I know it's"

"well" Annabelle sat back in the chair "I've been thinking" she paused waiting for Catherine to say something, when Catherine said nothing she continued "I guess it wouldn't kill me to go"

"what" Catherine snapped her head turning to look at Annabelle

"you heard me" Annabelle smiled, she could see Catherine's mood change

"are you sure Belle?"

"it's what you want" she began "we always hangout with my friends, it won't kill me to spend sometime doing something you want to do for once"

"we don't have to stay long, I just"

"I get it" Annabelle smiled 'I'm gonna need some alcohol to get through this night. "just let me get ahold of Collins and tell her the plans change"

"are you sure?"

"yes" Annabelle said standing up, placing a soft kiss on Catherine's lips then went into the house. Passing Patty on the way in, Patty took the seat Annabelle had vacated, causing Catherine to jump when she heard "did I just hear her right?"

"what?"

"did I just hear Anna say she'd go to the party?"

"you did" Catherine smiled

"wow, you have changed her"

"she said we always do what she wants with her friends, so it wouldn't kill her to go tonight"

"I'm proud of her" Patty smiled

"me too" Catherine smiled

"alright well, I guess this is it until May" Catherine said they were standing outside the airport

"yeah" Patty said softly "I'll stop by on my way back from Washington in a few weeks"

"sounds good" Catherine said, Patty pulled her in for a hug

"Anna" she said moving from Catherine to Annabelle

"mom" Annabelle said in her sarcastic tone

"don't be a smart ass"

"how can I not be" she smiled pulling her mom in for a tight hug "I love you mom"

"I love you too"

"tell dad I love him, and we'll see you soon"

"alright, Catherine keep her out of trouble" she called after them

"I will" Catherine turned with a smile, Jamie and Collins were already inside waiting.